James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important matter on the urgent need for the upgrade of the N25 national road between Midleton and Carrigtwohill, County Cork. It is not the first time the Deputy has raised it. He has been raising it consistently with the Minister.

The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the national development plan.

In the new national development plan launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects to 2030. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility throughout the country as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national road projects, including the completion of projects that are already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others. The N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton project is included in the list of projects to be evaluated for potential prioritisation during the period covered by the national development plan.

Due to the fact the greater portion of the national development plan funding for road projects becomes available in the second half of the decade, there is a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year. However, most national road projects in the national development plan will continue to be progressed in 2022. Projects such as the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton that do not have the required funding to progress this year remain part of projects for consideration in the national development plan and will be considered for funding next year.

Technical advisers have completed their assessment of the route options for the N25 project and have determined the preferred solution. Improvements to crossings over this very busy section of the N25, to enhance active travel, are being considered as part of the scheme. Given funding constraints as referred to earlier, TII was unable to provide an allocation for this project in 2022. Progression and potential prioritisation of the project to design and development of the business case for decision gate 1 under the public spending code will therefore not be possible this year. The delivery programme for the project will be kept under review for next year and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.

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